By James B. Ewers Jr. Ed. D.
Texas Metro News
https://texasmetronews.com
The American Tennis Association National Tournament will be held July 28th- August 3rd in Orlando Florida. This event will draw hundreds of junior players and adult players from across America. They will compete in different age groups and skill levels.
Tennis players, their families and fans will come together to enjoy this signature tennis event. The American Tennis Association (ATA) is the oldest predominantly African American sports organization in the world.
The popularity of ATA tournaments has grown tremendously over the years. Now more than ever before, families are planning their vacations around the dates of the tournaments.
I spoke to one family, and they said, “We usually arrive a few days before the tournament begins. It gives us a chance to take in the sights and to see some of our friends.”
A parent of a junior player said, “Congratulations to the ATA for having the national tournament in Orlando. It was a great move because Orlando is a top vacation spot with a lot of attractions.”
One feature of recent National ATA tournaments is the number of college tennis coaches that are in attendance. If you are a junior player and you are interested in playing college tennis, then you should be there.
Receiving a tennis scholarship is a goal for many aspiring players. This is a great opportunity to have a partial or full scholarship. I am sure that junior players are putting in extra practice time.
The American Tennis Association was founded in 1916 by several African American physicians, college professors and businessmen in Washington DC. The overarching goal was to develop tennis talent within the Black community.
The first ATA National championships were held at Druid Hill Park in Baltimore Maryland in 1917. Talley Holmes won the first men’s singles title and Lucy Diggs won the first women’s singles title.
Years later, Althea Gibson received significant help from ATA leaders, Dr. Robert Walter Johnson, Dr. Hubert Eaton and Mr. Bertram Baker that allowed her to compete in the U.S. National Championship at Forest Hills. She was the first African American woman to win the singles title at the U. S. National Championship. It is now called the U.S. Open.
Arthur Ashe, mentored by Dr. Johnson, won the U.S. Amateur Championship and the U.S. Open in 1968. He was the first African American to win both titles in the same year.
Over time, the ATA has developed partnerships with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
As a result, in addition to playing in USTA tournaments, players have been able to get coaching and mentoring opportunities. Workshops and seminars have also been created for HBCU coaches along with getting additional resources.
I have been privileged to have had many wonderful experiences with the ATA as a junior player and as an adult player. I have played in tournaments at both Druid Hills Park and the venerable Turkey Thicket tennis courts in Washington DC.
Being around and watching tennis excellence like Arthur Ashe and Art Carrington inspired me to do my best as a tennis player and a tennis ambassador. I played tennis at Johnson C. Smith University, an HBCU in Charlotte NC. American Tennis Association legend, Dr. Hubert Eaton is a graduate of Johnson C. Smith University and played tennis there.
The excitement is building for this year’s American Tennis Association National tournament. Go to their website, www.yourata.org for further information about all aspects of the tournament. It is my hope you will become a member of the American Tennis Association. You will make new friends, and your tennis game will improve.
ATA leaders and volunteers are preparing for an outstanding tennis experience. Why not consider becoming a volunteer for upcoming ATA tournaments. Another possibility is training to become a lines person or a chair umpire.
Get ready! We will see you in Orlando.
James B. Ewers Jr. Ed. D. is a long-time educator who hails from Winston Salem, N.C. Ewers is a life member of the NAACP and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists.
